Premier League - Managers: Wenger: 'One of my best squads'

All the managerial reaction from the final day of the 2012/13 Premier League season.

Roberto Martinez: "I don't fear that Wigan will disappear without trace because I know that we have the foundations. I'm not saying that we are stronger than Wolves (who were relegated from the Championship). I don't know what they are doing internally. Maybe you get so hurt at what happened that it is difficult to react. But we are already working on next season and with or without me Wigan will bounce back. With the parachute money, we should be the strongest team in the Championship."

Paul Lambert: (On Darren Bent's future) "That's an unfair question. We've just played a game. It's not over one player, it never is and as I've said, we're going to sit and evaluate what's been happening with everybody, including the chairman. I've said before we've been playing really well and we're getting better and better. The lads that are new at the club are starting to get a grip with it. The fans have been brilliant. I've got nothing but thanks to say for the Aston Villa supporters because they've been incredible for us."

Rafael Benitez: "We'll have to wait (about his future post Chelsea). Some leagues have finished now and people are making decisions so we'll see what happens. I am really proud because we have a team in transition and you can see young players, playing 69 games and doing well to the last game. I'm pleased for them and really proud. If you analyse when we were rotating trying to keep fresh legs, winning finals and finishing third, with a team that finished sixth last year, that is quite good. I received a lot of messages so I was quite happy with the response of a lot of the fans. You can't change the opinion of everyone but a lot of people realise what we've tried to do. You prefer people supporting the team and you but if it's not the case you just try to do your job as well as you can."

David Moyes: "I've just said to them they've had a brilliant season. You can see the way they've played against the best in the country. Whoever takes the job will have a lot of pleasure working with them. They are honest, whole-hearted, have great energy and are a really good team as well. It's emotional because it's the last time I walk away from the players but part of the job is you move on. It's rare to stay in a job for 11 years so I'm thankful for getting that opportunity and hopeful they're in a strong position to push on. It's really not sunk in."

Brendan Rodgers: "(Jamie Carragher) is a true great. This is a guy, who after 737 games, is a true legend of this club. His performance was immaculate. I only wish for him and his family that his strike would have gone in. He gets credit for defensive qualities but he is also a great technical player. It has been a pleasure working with him. My only regret is that I would have liked to have had many more years and games working with him."

Harry Redknapp: "We've been close in a lot of games but lacked quality to turn those close games around. Whatever we did it would have been a massive job next year. We didn't have the quality to stay in the Premier League. We need to improve that in the summer with lads who want to work hard and do well for QPR. We've got no divine right to come straight back up. We'll have to work hard. I've inherited a group with some good professionals and also with people who are not so good. That has been the problem. Lots of them can't get up early enough to get to training on time."

Bryan Kidd: "It's been an emotional week with the events at the club. Full credit to the lads, they've got stuck and given their best and you can't ask for any more. I understand the cheers for the boss [Roberto Mancini], he would have been disappointed if there wasn't for what he did here. I don't know about changes, but the main change will be the appointment of a new manager, whoever that's going to be."

Chris Hughton: "The manner in which we achieved this win is most pleasing. You know they (Man City) are going to have the bulk of possession but we did really well with the ball. We were always a threat and I don't think anyone who saw that would say that we weren't worthy of what we got today. We would have liked to make the end of the season more comfortable, but it's about where you finish up. We had some good form before Christmas and struggled since, but we have played well in the last few games."

Alan Pardew: "We were under strength to enter two competitions as we did. The Europa League on the Thursday night takes away a lot of legs for the Sunday. We've got very good young players. I think 80% of that team next year will do very well for us but they do need a lift, a bit of experience, a bit of quality. We have got some great players here. It's key for us next year to keep everybody fit."

Arsene Wenger: "They are special. I've told them many times but they've shown it in the last two months they've been absolutely exceptional. We have shown character and attitude. We make 73 points, that's three points better than last season. I've had many groups in my life and the focus, the desire to do well, was exceptional. It's one of the best groups I've had in my life on that front. We want to have additions to the squad [over the summer] but keep first the structure and spirit of the team we have now. But, let's not forget, there are many clubs who have big money and there's maybe not enough talent to strengthen all the teams who have money."

Mauricio Pochettino: “I’m very happy for the supporters and it was nice to see their tribute for the players, but I am a little bit sad and disappointed that we didn’t win today. I think we have been superior in the last six games that we have played, but we just haven’t been able to close out games which is why our performances may not have looked as good as they should have been. We have lacked that final touch in order to close down and get wins."

Tony Pulis: "It was always the plan to bring (Michael Owen) on. He had a great chance in the second half to actually put the icing on the cake. If he had scored, I think even the Southampton supporters would have given him a round of applause. He got a great reception and he deserves it. He has been a very, very good pro for us and, not just his football side, he is a very, very good family man."

Michael Laudrup: "It's not the finish I wanted. We did OK in the first half and we were good in the second but we just couldn't finish in the final third. We have to work on goals in the summer and we will try to bring someone in. Our attitude was good but we could and should have scored more goals. Looking back it's not the first time we have lost like that. We are pleased with lots of parts of the season but we know where we can improve."

Martin Jol: "It was exactly what we needed because in England, in the Premier League, every season is the same - the last four or five matches you can be in the top 10 then you can be 16th or 17th. Today this result takes us to 12th place, so I’m satisfied. If you saw our season, we had a very good first spell but got a bit inconsistent again for seven or eight games, although it was against some fantastic teams; Everton away, Newcastle away, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool at home. To go to Swansea - which is a terrific footballing team - now I realise that the difference between them and us is probably our home defeat against them because I think we were the better team - they admitted that after the game. So we should be on 46 [points] and they on 43 and they are fantastic and we are probably not fantastic this year. But that’s the Premier League – everything is so close together that even Norwich and my friend Chris Hughton can beat Manchester City."

Andre Villas-Boas: "It is difficult to take, in the end we did what we had to but Arsenal did their job well and go through. It is difficult at this moment. It was extremely disappointing because we saw how the results can influence the running of the game. Our game could have been even better. We are absolutely disappointed not to have a penalty today, or all season. Tottenham is a wonderful club who will continue to attract big players and will continue to push on. A very, very good season, we pushed two clubs all the way for fourth and third spot and I think we can make it better next season."

Paolo Di Canio (regarding Phil Bardsley, who was axed from the squad after being pictured passed out in a casino in midweek): "I am going to sit at the table with the chairman. Obviously if we want to have a different future we need to bring in good players but with a professionalism. They can't stay with me people who behave like that. In that way it is too easy to push those people out. Talking about strict rules. It was disgusting. These people can't train with me. If people don't care about the reaction of the family at 30 years of age, it is difficult to change. We have to be careful in the future."

Steve Clarke: "We will have to wait and see what the summer brings (regarding Romelu Lukaku). I've just had a quick glass of wine with Sir Alex. He's in good spirits. I am not sure Sir Alex enjoyed (the match) that much. There is no point analysing the game. We had a great Plan A, which went out of the window after 10 minutes. It was a great occasion. That game will be remembered for a long time. He was quite complimentary about our season and I wish him all the best."

Sir Alex Ferguson did not speak to the media after his final game as Manchester United manager.

Sam Allardyce: (On signing Andy Carroll) "It is our target to make it a permanent situation. Hopefully we can get somewhere in the near future to do that. It's our main priority. There are negotiations between the club and Liverpool. We have to pursue it to the very end one way or another and we will find out as quick as we can if it is a yes or a no. If we can start with Andy Carroll that would be a great achievement for us as he can only get better and better. Then we build around that in terms of how we want to improve next year, with better quality."

Nigel Adkins: "There is a good feelgood factor going forward for next season, which is important. We have changed the way the club has played football - we are looking to be more in control with keeping the football for longer periods of time and that takes time to get everyone ready to go and do that. Great credit to the players, they showed really good character and in the second half we came out and scored two good goals. We were in the ascendancy up until they scored the third."